West Ham defender Kurt Zouma in ankle boot, ruled out of Lyon clash
West Ham have got a major injury concern ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon with Kurt Zouma ruled out.
The dominant central defender rolled his ankle against Brentford at the weekend and was forced to come off after just half an hour of the game.
West Ham Latest on Twitter have now shared an image of the Frenchman that will be of great concern to every Hammers fan with many big games still to play this season.
The 27-year-old is shown wearing an ankle boot on his right foot as he gave a signed Irons shirt away.
The club released an injury update on the defender today (12 April) to confirm that he will miss Thursday’s clash with Lyon in his homeland.
They say that “the French defender is to remain in London for further tests and examination,” on his ankle injury sustained against Brenftord.
Diop nightmare
No Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna’s long-term absence indicates that it will be Issa Diop who gets the nod if his compatriot can’t play as we can assume judging by the image above.
That is almost even worse news than Zouma’s injury itself because when he came on against the Bees on Sunday, he looked awful.
Both Brentford goals could be blamed on the dreadful positional awareness that saw him caught out ball-watching twice.
Bryan Mbuemo was allowed to surge into acres of open space behind him as he seemed to close down thin air as the ball reached Ivan Toney on the edge of the area for the opening goal.
Toney then got his own name on the scoresheet as he ghosted behind Diop with the ball in a wide area and the cross sailed over the Frenchman’s head and onto the prolific Englishman’s.
If he is just as bad on Thursday, if he starts, then West Ham can effectively kiss a semi-final spot goodbye because they won’t be able to score enough goals to overturn those Diop is accountable for at the other end of the pitch.
In other West Ham news, Moyes has been thrilled with one of his fringe players at the club with what he does off the pitch.
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